Can you drink coffee with clear braces

Table of contents

1. How Does Coffee Affect My Teeth?
2. Can I Drink Coffee with Braces?
3. Can I Drink Coffee with Clear Aligners?
4. The Many Benefits of Clear Aligners
5. Get Started on Building a Straighter, More Beautiful Smile Today

If you're like most people, you can't start your mornings or get through your day without a piping hot cup of coffee. The average Canadian drinks almost 3 cups of coffee per day, while the average American adult has a slightly higher average. As a coffee lover, you might think there is nothing that can stop you from enjoying that sweet (or bitter, depending on how you take it, we don't judge) cup of delight every day. If you are pregnant or have a sensitivity to caffeine, you can always go to decaf. Nothing can stop you! Except for one thing. If you are thinking about getting your teeth straightened in the coming months or are about to get braces, you might be wondering whether or not you can drink coffee with braces. Will you have to give up your beloved drink in the name of a straighter, more beautiful smile? Lucky for you, we have the answers. We have created a complete guide for coffee lovers on whether or not you can still drink coffee with braces, plus some great alternatives.

How Does Coffee Affect My Teeth?

First things first, let's talk about how coffee affects your teeth with or without braces. Coffee is a pigmented drink and can very quickly stain or yellow your teeth. Brushing after drinking coffee is crucial, as it can help to minimize the risk of staining. Drinking coffee can also contribute to bad breath, which decreases your overall oral health. Coffee can demineralize your teeth, making them softer and more prone to stains, cavities, and more.

Can I Drink Coffee with Braces?

The short answer is yes. You can drink coffee with braces. The coffee will not in any way make the braces ineffective or make your teeth less straight. What drinking coffee with braces will do, however, is increase the likelihood of stained and yellowed teeth. Not only will coffee stain your teeth, but coffee can also stain the brackets of your braces. Braces stains are very difficult to remove and can make your smile look a little dingy. If you do not brush your teeth right away after drinking coffee with braces, the coffee can sit and fester on your teeth and in the nooks and crannies of your braces. The coffee mixes with the saliva and bacteria already in your mouth and braces to create a bad, unpleasant odor. As a result, drinking coffee with braces can give you bad breath.

Can I Drink Coffee with Clear Aligners?

You may be thinking, "there has to be an alternative for people with braces!" Sure enough, there is! Clear teeth aligners are like braces, in that they make your teeth gradually straighter over time. Unlike braces, however, you can remove clear aligners when you are eating and drinking. Since you can remove them, you do not have to worry about your favorite drink staining your aligners. If you drink coffee, simply take out the aligners, sip, and enjoy. Be sure to brush your teeth right after so that any coffee film leftover on your teeth does not transfer over to the aligner. If you accidentally drink coffee with your aligners still on, there is no need to worry. You can take out the aligners and clean them according to the instructions the provider gave you. The aligners will usually clean right up and look like new.

The Many Benefits of Clear Aligners

So, not only do clear aligners allow you to keep your daily habit of drinking coffee but there are actually tons of other benefits to clear aligners. The main benefit is that clear aligners typically take less time to give you a straight, beautiful smile than braces do. The average amount of time that braces are worn is two and a half years while aligners work in as little as 6 to 8 months. You generally need to wear them at least 22 hours a day, which means there are two hours where you can take them off. If you have an important event or need to take photos, you can easily take the aligner out. Clear aligners are a very discreet way to straighten your teeth. People hardly notice them. You can forgo the awkwardness or feelings of self-consciousness of being an adult with braces and just go straight to having a great smile. Clear aligners are usually more affordable than traditional metal braces. With braces, you need to go to an expensive orthodontist and take time off of work to go to regular appointments. Many aligners offer at-home placement so you can start at your own convenience. Plus, since you're not paying for a specialized orthodontist's time, you get the aligners at a much more affordable rate.

Get Started on Building a Straighter, More Beautiful Smile Today

After learning about the effects of drinking coffee with braces, does the thought make you cringe a little bit? You are not alone. No one wants bad breath and stained braces. But wanting straight teeth does not mean you have to give up life's simple pleasures. It is not an either-or situation. Clear aligners are a great alternative to achieving a straighter smile without sacrificing any part of your normal eating and drinking routine. For an affordable way to get a straighter smile where you do not have to give up your morning coffee, reach out to us here at Aligner Co. We offer a wide variety of clear aligners and clear braces to help you get the smile of your dreams. Get started on your perfect smile today. Take our free assessment to see which type of aligners can work best for you.